Related: Click here to read about historic Elm Street in Greensboro.
In the International Civil Rights Center & Museum, artifacts like the actual lunch counter where the famous sit-in occurred tell the story of Black Americans’ fight for equality.
(336) 274-9199
sitinmovement.org
The building that now houses this shop has lived many lives. It may have been built as a livery, says owner Brian Lampkin. When he and his partners opened Scuppernong in 2012, there were still LPs on the walls from the record store that operated here in the 1980s. Today, customers walk across the pine floors and take in the smell of books along with the aroma of cappuccinos and lattes from the shop’s coffee bar, which was constructed using the building’s original rafters.
(336) 763-1919
scuppernongbooks.com
The circa-1900 building that houses this men’s clothing store was once home to Merchant’s Grocery Company and Miller Furniture Company. Behind the original bay windows, shoppers browse jackets, hats, and bags, plus jeans made with Cone Mills White Oak denim.
(336) 833-5857
hudsonshill.com
Make a reservation to enjoy a coffee or tea while playing with adoptable cats in the circa-1903 building that originally housed the South Elm Street Hotel.
(336) 550-4024
crookedtailcatcafe.com
World War II-era newspapers in the basement are relics from this building’s days as a printing press. Since 2018, the French café has served up croissants, crepes, and croque monsieurs in the sunny space. Owner Kathryn Hubert spent a year in France and wanted to open a restaurant that offered French cuisine — and jobs to people both with and without disabilities. “I wanted to create an environment where everyone had an equal shot,” she says.
(336) 663-7399
chezgenese.com
Shop for jeans — along with jackets, hoodies, and T-shirts — in the city once known for having the largest denim manufacturer in the world.
(336) 271-6864
wrangler.com/stores.html
Built around 1896, this building first housed the J.W. Jones Wholesale Grocery. Today, the brewpub — named for Revolutionary War hero Nathanael Greene, the city’s namesake — serves burgers and beers like Guilford Golden Lager, a nod to the pivotal Battle of Guilford Courthouse during the Revolutionary War.
(336) 274-1373
nattygreenes.com
Take a stroll through Center City Park and marvel at the public art installations, like Terra Cotta Mother Bird & Chicks by Seagrove artist Fred Johnston. “What I find most unique about this area downtown is how much land the city dedicated to open space,” Overman says. “That’s something I take pride in, being from Greensboro. We see the importance of outdoor spaces.”
(336) 373-7533
greensborodowntownparks.org
This venue, which seats approximately 3,000, hosts some 150 events per year, from Broadway productions to musical acts like The Avett Brothers.
(336) 333-6500
tangercenter.com
LeBauer Park photograph by LYNN DONOVAN
Across Davie Street, Janet Echelman’s Where We Met aerial sculpture undulates in a gentle breeze. One of the largest art installations in the Southeast, it features 35 miles of colorful fibers, representing an 1896 map of the rail lines that spanned out from Greensboro.
(336) 373-7533
greensborodowntownparks.org
A cake first made in Depression-era kitchens using household staples now helps us savor the season, no green thumb necessary.
From woodsmoke to salt air, certain scents carry memory, tradition, and comfort across North Carolina.
Visit a renowned writer’s home, catch a show, and wander Little Rainbow Row with our springtime guide to Flat Rock.
Across the Carolina coast, silvery strands offer texture, shelter, and quiet wonder.
